Stanford car hire

Driver's age: 26-65

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Booking Insights
Car Rental Deals

Cheap car hire in Stanford

Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.
Economy car
Economy
M
Compact car
Compact
M
Intermediate car
Intermediate
M
Standard car
Standard
M
Full-size car
Full-size
M
Luxury car
Luxury
M
People carrier car
People carrier
M
Passenger van car
Passenger van
M
Commercial car
Commercial
M
Pick-up truck car
Pick-up truck
M
Booking Insights

Good to know

Most popular car type

Standard

KAYAK’s insights & trends for Stanford car hire

Check out the latest trends and booking tips to hire a car in Stanford with confidence.

How far in advance should you book car hire in Stanford?

You should book your car hire in Stanford around 27 days before your trip in order to get a below-average price.

What is the best car hire company in Stanford?

Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car hire companies in Stanford are Hertz (2.0, 10 reviews), Enterprise Rent-A-Car (1.9, 5 reviews), and Avis (6.4).
Hertz
Hertz
Rated 2.0/10
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Rated 1.9/10
Avis
Avis
Rated 6.4/10
Dollar
Dollar
Rated 5.5/10

What is the most popular car to hire in Stanford?

Intermediate cars (Kia Niro or similar) are the most popular type of vehicle to hire in Stanford. Intermediate cars in Stanford cost R726/day on average, though some users have found deals as low as R443/day.

What is the cheapest month to hire a car in Stanford?

The cheapest month to hire a car in Stanford is January at an average cost of R434/day. August is the most expensive month to hire a car in Stanford when prices are R851/day on average, which tends to be 1 923% above the yearly average hire price for Stanford.

Which car hire company in Stanford has the most locations?

Hertz operates 4 locations in Stanford, more than any other car hire company.

KAYAK’s top tips for hiring a car in Stanford

  • Securing car rentals in Stanford is an ideal way to see the small city that is essentially the campus of Stanford University. You can get around according to your own schedule, and you also have the freedom to travel around one of the most interesting parts of the country. Located near the southern end of the San Francisco Bay, Stanford is within easy driving distance of San Francisco, San Jose, and Sacramento. In Stanford car rentals, you can even take a scenic drive down the Pacific coast along US Highway 1.
  • Because it is located just a 45-minute drive to the north of Stanford, the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) makes an ideal location for securing Stanford car rentals. At SFO, you can conveniently pick up and then drop off your Stanford car rentals at the airport’s Rental Car Center. To access this consolidated facility, you can take the AirTrain Blue Line, SFO’s people mover system that operates 24/7, stopping frequently at every terminal on its way to the Rental Car Center.
  • Peak traffic times in Stanford, specifically on the Stanford campus, are between 88 am and 9 am, and then from 5 pm to 6 pm. Traffic tends to be particularly congested around Junipero Sierra Boulevard and Stanford Avenue, so those driving car rentals in Stanford should exercise caution and drive defensively if you use these roads. Also, the community of Stanford has a daytime population that is approximately double its nighttime population. So, driving around Stanford and parking becomes much easier and much less congested after 5 pm.
  • One of the biggest problems drivers of car rentals in Stanford will face is dealing with university event traffic. The start of a semester, graduation, Parents Weekend, and Homecoming are all portents of congested traffic that you should work to avoid or circumvent. There will also be traffic on days of Stanford home football games as well as other campus events. You can look up online or call the Office of Special Events and Protocol at Stanford to find out if there will be upcoming event traffic. You can also access a Stanford event calendar online to help you plan your travel around congested events.
  • Standard hire cars in Stanford are around 72% cheaper than other car types, on average

FAQs about hiring a car in Stanford

  • Which car hire agencies are at San Francisco airport (SFO)?

    The only car hire company onsite at San Francisco airport is Thrifty.

  • Which car hire companies will pick you up at San Francisco airport (SFO)?

    The only car hire company that offers shuttle or pick-up services from San Francisco airport to off-airport locations is Thrifty.

  • How can I find car hires near me in Stanford?

    Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.

  • How much does a Standard car hire cost in Stanford?

    A Standard car hire in Stanford costs R371 per day, on average.

  • How much does a Compact car hire cost in Stanford?

    A Compact car hire in Stanford costs R600 per day, on average.

  • How much does an Intermediate car hire cost in Stanford?

    An Intermediate car hire in Stanford costs R684 per day, on average.

  • What type of car is recommended for driving in Stanford?

    For those driving car rentals in Stanford, the type of vehicle you choose will very much depend on why you are there. If you are there for business, you may want to rent a luxury sedan to arrive at your appointments in style. If you are visiting friends, you might want a larger car, such as an SUV, to make driving with large groups of people easy. If you will be visiting Stanford on a Stanford University event weekend, you may want to rent as small a car as possible, such as a compact or an economy car, to make negotiating traffic and snagging parking easier.

  • What's the speed limit in Stanford?

    In Stanford on the campus of Stanford University, the speed limit is 20 mph in Escondido Village. The speed limit is 10 mph in any parking lot, parking structure, or Pedestrian Zone. At Serra Mall and The Oval, the speed limit is 15 mph. All other streets on campus grounds have a speed limit of 25 mph. The speed limit of Interstate 280, which skirts Stanford, is 70 mph.

  • Where are the best places to park in Stanford?

    In the city of Stanford on the Stanford campus, parking meters are in effect Monday through Friday from 8 am until 4 pm., except for holidays observed by Stanford University. Permit parking in Visitor Pay Lots, Green Zones, Time Limit Zones, and areas with resident permits is in effect Monday through Friday from 6 am to 4 pm. A visitor permit costs around $4.50 an hour. Parking is free on campus after 4 pm and on weekends, and after 6 pm at The Oval. A parking meter in Stanford costs around $1.50 an hour.

Stanford car rental reviews and directory

 
All ratings and reviews are collected from KAYAK users with a verified car hire booking. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.

Hertz

Cleanliness

8.0

Comfort

2.0

Pick-up/Drop-off

6.0

Value for money

2.0

4 locations in Stanford

Show locations

Locations in Stanford

360 Oak Rd

+1 650 876 1866

Monday09:00 - 17:00
Tuesday09:00 - 17:00
Wednesday09:00 - 17:00
Thursday09:00 - 17:00
Friday09:00 - 17:00
Saturday09:00 - 17:00
Sunday09:00 - 17:00

360 Oak Road

+1 650 876 1866

Monday14:00 - 17:0009:00 - 17:00
Tuesday14:00 - 17:0009:00 - 17:00
Wednesday14:00 - 17:0009:00 - 17:00
Thursday09:00 - 17:0014:00 - 17:00
Friday14:00 - 17:0009:00 - 17:00
Saturday09:00 - 17:00

625 El Camino Real

+1 650 617 0386

Monday08:00 - 12:0013:00 - 17:00
Tuesday13:00 - 17:0008:00 - 12:00
Wednesday13:00 - 17:0008:00 - 12:00
Thursday13:00 - 17:0008:00 - 12:00
Friday08:00 - 12:0013:00 - 17:00

816 San Antonio Rd

+1 650 739 0370

Monday08:00 - 12:00
Tuesday08:00 - 12:00
Wednesday08:00 - 12:00
Thursday08:00 - 12:00
Friday08:00 - 12:00

Filters

Show reviews that mention

Reviews

8,0 Very Good

Frank, Aug 2025

People carrier

KAYAK
I had some trouble with the card reading machine but the agent was able to show me another way to complete my transaction.

2,0 Poor

Anonymous, Nov 2021

KAYAK
Staff member provided a vehicle that was a size smaller than what the reservation indicated, then lied about it when asked. I was eventually allowed to switch vehicles.

5,2 Fair

Gabriel, Oct 2020

KAYAK

Cons:

Staff at Hertz Palo Alto were quite unhelpful. Among other things, they failed to provide minimum docs needed for drop-off.

1 out of 4

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Cleanliness

1.9

Comfort

1.9

Pick-up/Drop-off

1.9

Value for money

1.9

2 locations in Stanford

Show locations

Locations in Stanford

2243 Old Middlefield Way

+1 650 843 4990

Monday08:00 - 12:00
Tuesday08:00 - 12:00
Wednesday08:00 - 12:00
Thursday08:00 - 12:00
Friday08:00 - 12:00
Saturday09:00 - 17:00
Sunday00:00 - 00:00

360 Oak Rd

+1 650 843 4990

Monday00:00 - 00:00
Tuesday00:00 - 00:00
Wednesday00:00 - 00:00
Thursday00:00 - 00:00
Friday00:00 - 00:00
Saturday00:00 - 00:00
Sunday00:00 - 00:00

Filters

Reviews

4,0 Mediocre

Anonymous, Feb 2025

Luxury

KAYAK
The email confirmation took me to an old address which is now a hertz. Thankfully a hertz worker was there while they were closed to directed me to the correct address almost a mile away. I had to walk there in unideal weather. Then the car I reserved was not available. I was also charged for a car seat which I did not use and was not provided to me.

2,0 Poor

Anonymous, Oct 2023

Passenger van

KAYAK
ORDERED A 12 PASSENGER VAN FOR A GROUP OUTING, ORDERED CONFIRMED. AFTER SETTING EVERYTHING UP I GET A CALL THE NEXT DAY , SORRY WE DO NOT HAVE A VEHICLE FOR YOU, TAKE MY ORDER, CONFIRM MY ORDER, CANCEL MY ORDER "1 STAR"

1 out of 2

Avis

6,4

Okay

One location in Stanford

Show locations

Locations in Stanford

4230 El Camino Real

+1 650 493 8888

Monday08:00 - 12:00
Tuesday08:00 - 12:00
Wednesday08:00 - 12:00
Thursday08:00 - 12:00
Friday08:00 - 12:00
Saturday08:00 - 12:00
Sunday08:00 - 12:00

Filters

No reviews available

Dollar

5,5

Fair

One location in Stanford

Show locations

Locations in Stanford

816 San Antonio Road

+1 650 739 0370

Monday08:00 - 12:00
Tuesday08:00 - 12:00
Wednesday08:00 - 12:00
Thursday08:00 - 12:00
Friday08:00 - 12:00

Filters

No reviews available

Thrifty

5,5

Fair

One location in Stanford

Show locations

Locations in Stanford

816 San Antonio Road

+1 650 739 0370

Monday08:00 - 12:00
Tuesday08:00 - 12:00
Wednesday08:00 - 12:00
Thursday08:00 - 12:00
Friday08:00 - 12:00

Filters

No reviews available

Budget

No score available yet

One location in Stanford

Show locations

Locations in Stanford

4230 El Camino Real

+1 650 424 0684

Monday08:00 - 12:00
Tuesday08:00 - 12:00
Wednesday08:00 - 12:00
Thursday08:00 - 12:00
Friday08:00 - 12:00
Saturday08:00 - 12:00
Sunday08:00 - 12:00

Filters

Reviews

10,0 Wonderful

Tony, Nov 2023

Intermediate SUV

KAYAK
All good

1 out of 1

2 travellers who hired a car in Stanford gave the car agency they used an average rating of 5,9

Car hire locations in or near Stanford

Stanford car hire information

Pick-up locationStanford
Car types
Hire locations3
Airport locations0

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